Paint applicator



Jan. 22, 1957 J. A. MEINHARDT 2,778,050

PAINT APPLICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 29, 1952 INVENTOR JACOB A. MEINHARDT y Y .2 E N R O I T I M f Y B Jan. 22; 1957 J. A. MEINHARDT 2,778,050

PAINT APPLICATOR V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 29, 1952 INVENTOR JACOB A. MEINHARDT ATTORNEY th r S e Pat n PAINT APPLICATOR Jacob A. Meinhardt, Elmhurst, Ill.

Application July 29, 1952, Serial No. 301,491

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-248) This invention relates to paint applicators and more particularly to paint applicators comprising a cylindrical roller carrying peripherally thereon a paint retaining and distributing means whereby paint may be appliedtowa'll surfaces and the like upon manipulation of the roller thereover.

Briefly the paint applicator according to the present invention comprises a handle having a roller journaled thereon for rotation on an axis transversly of the handle. The roller comprises in one form of the invention, a core having secured to the periphery thereof a mass of short, soft threads or yarn resembling thrums or tufts to enhance the paint retention qualities of the applicator roller, thereby enabling the roller to retain a desired quantity of paint and of effecting an even distribution of the paint upon the surface. Cooperating with the roller applicator of this type are facilities and instrumentalities which render the applicator more effective. Such instrumentalities include a paint receptacle containing a yieldable expresser plate defined herein as a plate for controlling the paint content of the roller by eifectuating the distribution of paint on the roller and facilitating the removal of excessive quantities of paint from said roller, and an applicator guard.

A salient object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a paint applicator which is efficient, effective and economical.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is an elevational view, partly in section, of the paint applicator according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the paint applicator arrangement in another condition of operation;

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the manner of operation of the paint applicator;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the paint applicator; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the paint receptacle showing the expresser plate.

Having reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views, the paint applicator arrangement according to the present invention comprises, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a paint receptacle 11, a yieldable expresser plate 12, a splash plate 13 and an applicator 14. The paint receptacle 11 is a rectangular pan having a beaded edge 15. The splash plate 13 is provided with spring clips 16 secured thereto (as for example, by welding) which are adapted to be clipped over the beaded edge 15 of the receptacle 11.

The expresser plate 12 comprises a latticed plate member 17 which in the present embodiment consists of a portion of expanded metal Welded to a frame 18 of rectangular conformation adapted to fit relatively snug into the receptacle 11. Provided at each corner of the expresser plate 12 is a retraction or compressor spring 19, which in the present form of the invention simulates the 2,778,050 Patented Jan. 22, 1957 frusturn of a truncated cone with the small upper end of the spring 19 hooked securely onto the reverted end of a supporting bar 21 welded to the plate 17. With this construction the expresser plate 12 is supported on the large diameter lower ends of the compressor springs 19, thus giving a substantial support to the expresser plate 12 while at the same time providing greater resiliency.

The applicator 14 comprises a handle 21 to which are rigidly secured a pair of Z-shaped brackets 22, each consisting of spaced generally parallel legs interconnected by a web portion arranged normal to said legs. Between the free-ends or legs of brackets 22 is supported or' journaled a paint roller 23. Roller 23 comprises in one form of the invention a core 24 having secured or tied to the periphery thereof in any well known manner masses or tufts of short, soft threads or yarn resembling thrums of the order of two to three inches in length. Of course, it is understood that the invention is not limited to any particular length of strands.

The softness and yieldability of the fibers or strands composing the roller serve to enhance the paint retention qualities of the applicator roller 23, thereby enabling the roller to retain a desired quantity of paint and of effecting aneven distribution of paint upon the surface, particularly upon such uneven surfaces as wire fences, corrugated walls etc. In another form of applicator roller, the strands or tufts may be secured to a sleeve which may be mounted on the core 24 thus lending the rollers to ready interchangeability. Of course, instead of the yarn or thread type strands, the roller 23 may comprise any of the well known forms of lambs wool rollers.

Riveted to the web portions of'the brackets 22 is an applicator guard comprising an ancuate plate 25. A rectangular frame 26 cooperating with the rolled over ends of the plate 25 serves to provide rigidity to the plate 25. Guard 25 thus functions as an interceptor member, to thereby intercept and collect any excess paint that may spatter during the paint application.

In the practice of the present invention the receptacle 11 is filled with paint up to a point or level 30 (Fig. 1) a short distance below the expresser plate 12 when the compressor springs are in relaxed, normal or extended condition. To supply paint to roller 23, the applicator 14 is manipulated at the position substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Pressure is then manually applied to the expresser plate 12 through the applicator 14 to compress the springs 19 and thereby depress the expresser plate 12 below the surface 30 of the paint as shown in Fig. 2. A rolling action or motion is then imparted to the roller 23 to thus collect paint thereon, after which the manual pressure on the applicator 14 and the expresser plate is released, whereupon the compression springs 19 are relaxed to permit their becoming extended to raise the expresser plate 12 above the level 30 of the paint supply in the receptacle 11. To remove the excess paint from the roller 23, the roller 23 is rolled back and forth along the expresser plate 12, applying only so much pressure to the applicator 14 as is deemed necessary to obtain or retain the desired amount of paint in the roller 23.

In the specific embodiment of the invention shown, having reference to Fig. 4, the core 24 is provided with a plurality of circumferential grooves 8, which are preferably relatively deep to enhance the retentivity of the strands of yarn 9. A taut wire 10 is utilized to securely retain the numerous U-shaped strands 9. The grooves 8 are preferably of such width as to require a force fit thereinto of the wire 10 and strands 9. As mentioned hereinbefore, best results are obtained when the strands 9 are of a length as to measure 3 to 3 /2 inches from the peripheral surface of the core 24, which is of the order of 2 /2 to 3 inches in diameter. The grooves 8 are about fiveeights inch deep. It is, of course, realized that these ice dimensions are only relative, and do not limit the scope of the invention. With the long strands, the paint is applied more evenly, since the long strands can protrude, during the rolling action, through the wire mesh and paint distribution is effected on both sides of the wire mesh being painted.

The paint applicator arrangement according to the present invention is particularly adaptable to the painting of wire, steel bar, picket and all similarly constructed fences such as partitions, cages, window guards, etc. Moreover, the arrangement disclosed is adaptable to painting corrugated surfaces, for example, the sides and roofs of metal buildings. Of course, there are many other applications of paint to either smooth or uneven surfaces where the present invention would find usefulness. In Fig. 3 is illustrated the use of the applicator 14 upon a vertical surface 31. The painter or operator of the applicator 14 is protected from spattering paint by the arcuate shield or baffle 25 which collects the paint that may spatter from roller 23.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described, it is, of course, understood that other applications are contemplated which come within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is: As an article of manufacture, a paint applicator having in combination a handle, a roller, supporting means for said roller comprising a pair of confronting Z-shaped 1 ranged in endwise alignment, said members having certain corresponding legs secured to one end of said handle and other corresponding legs supporting said roller, whereby I the axis of said roller is arranged to be supported transversely of the axis of said handle, an applicator guard comprising an arcuate plate, said plate secured medially to the aligned web portions of said Z-shaped members, a rectangular frame having two opposite sides thereof cooperating with rolled over ends of said guard to provide rigidity to said plate, the two other opposite sides of said frame subtending said arcuate plate, said other opposite sides of said frame provided centrally thereof with inwardly disposed oifset portions coacting with the roller supporting legs of said Z-shaped member to hold said rectangular frame substantially perpendicular to the plane of said Z-shaped members, whereby said guard plate is held substantially concentric with said roller to shield the operator from spattered paint.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 46,441 Birchmeyer Feb. 21, 1865 1,500,659 Suddard July 8, 1924 1,861,179 Gray May 31, 1932 1,976,511 Piercy Oct. 9, 1934 2,045,373 Scully et al. June 23, 1936 2,174,393 Steele Sept. 26, 1939 2,234,761 Harpootlian Mar. 11, 1941 2,298,682 Dahlstrom Oct. 13, 1942 2,490,546 Rubin Dec. 6, 1949 2,545,700 MacKey Mar. 20, 1951 2,600,197 Braun June 10, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 179,786 Switzerland Dec. 2, 1935 197,358 Germany May 1, 1907 

